Strand tensioning device



June 23, 1970 E. M. KAVICK STRAND TENSIONING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 19, 1968 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

EDWARD M. KAVICK ATTORNEYS June 23, 1970 E. M. KAVICK ,5

STRAND TENSIONING DEVICE Filed Aug. 19. 968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

E DWARD M. KAVI C K BY 0 V a m, Jmqbj mmww ATTQRNEYS United StatesPatent O Ohio Filed Aug. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 753,471 Int. Cl. B65h 49/00US. Cl. 242129.8 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device forcontrolling the tension of a fibrous strand as it is paid-off from aspool to a machine. The device comprises a rotatable member including acapstan at one end around which the strand from the spool is wound intensioned relation for feeding to the machine. A reactionary member isprovided which coacts with the rotatable member to vary the resistanceto rotation of the rotatable member. A pro-tensioning assembly includinga resilient member and a deformable member is provided through which thestrand passes for imparting a drag action thereto and for maintainingthe strand in non-slip relation on the capstan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to bobbin andcap winding and more particularly to devices for controlling the tensionupon a strand that passes from a supply spool to a machine.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of high pressure hose, the practice hasbeen to employ a Winding or braiding machine for applying a layer offibrous reinforcing material around a core of elastomeric material. Inthe past, the strands were fed from rotating spools which were mountedat spaced intervals on a stationary support. Friction imparting deviceswere associated with the rotating spools to control the speed ofrotation of the spool in relation to the speed of the strand being fed.Difficulty has been encountered in maintaining uniform tension on thestrands due to the necessity for braking the total rotating mass of thespool which gradually lessened as the strands were withdrawn from thespool. Such change in mass has required periodic adjustment of thefrictional force applied to the bobbin to maintain a uniform brakingaction on the entire spool, resulting in an objectionable loss of time.

More recently, the use of relatively stationary spools has beencontemplated as disclosed in the co-pending application to RaymondPaulson, Ser. No. 654,163 filed July 18, 1967. The present applicationconstitutes improvements in tensioning devices which may be used witheither rotatable spindles or with the non-rotatable spindles. In thecase of relatively stationary spindles, removing a strand from arelatively stationary bobbin requires an extremely small force. As aresult of this small force, difficulties have been encountered inmaintaining the strands in substantially non-slip relation on thetensioning devices presently used, thereby affecting the uniformity ofthe tension imparted to the strand as it is fed to the winding orbraiding machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates providing atensioning device which is adapted for use with rotatable ornon-rotatable spools for maintaining tension on a fibrous strand as itis withdrawn from the spool by machine.

The tensioning device comprises a housing which is adapted for mountingthe device on a relatively stationary support member, and a rotatablemember which may be carried by the housing being adapted to frictionallyengage the strand when it is Wound about the periphery thereof. Areactionary means is provided which is operably associated with therotatable member for resisting rotation of the rotatable member as thestrand is withdrawn from the spool and through the tensioning device bya winding or braiding machine. In addition, the device includes anadjustment means for varying the resistance imparted by the reactionarymeans to the rotatable member so that the tension on the strand may beeffectively controlled. In the preferred form, the rotatable memberincludes a capstan member comprising a resiliently, deformable materialadapted to receive the strand in embedded, frictional engagementthereabout. The reactionary means preferably includes a friction meanswhich coacts with the rotatable member to resist rotation of the capstanmember. In the preferred form, the reactionary means includes a flangemember mounted adjacent the opposite end of the rotatable member fromthe capstan member and which may be disposed within a cavity provided inthe housing. The friction means may be disposed between the flangemember and the housing, and a resilient member may be carried by therotatable member to urge the housing, rotatable member and frictionmeans into engagement with one another to impart resistance to therotation of the rotatable member to control the tension on the strand asit is paid-off the capstan member.

To further control the tension of the strand, a pre-tensioning assemblyis associated with the tensioning device to impart an initial dragaction to the strand as it is fed from the spool to the capstan member.The pretensioning assembly includes a compressible means and a resilientmeans which coact with one another to fric tionally engage the strandtherebetween to maintain tension on the strand as it is fed to thecapstan for holding the strand in non-slip relation on the capstan, aswell as, prevent unraveling of the strand as it is pulled from a supplyspool.

As can be seen, there is provided a tensioning device which caneffectively control the speed at which the strand is fed from either arotatable or non-rotatable spool so that the rate of withdrawal from thespool can be closely correlated to the requirements of the winding orbraiding machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of thetensioning device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view in cross section taken along the line 22of FIG. 1 showing the tensioning device mounted on a support member;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the tensioning deviceshowing the rotatable capstan members; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partly in section, side elevation view of thebobbin mounted on a support member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The tensioning device of thepresent invention is illustrated, generally at 2 in FIG. 1. As shown,the device includes a base 4 adapted for detachable connection to oneend of a cylindrical container 6 (FIG. 2). The container 6 is preferablyclosed at the opposite end by a wall 7 (FIG. 5), and is adapted to housea spool 8 comprised of strands S wound about a bobbin 9.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in the form shown, the spool 8 is of thenon-rotatable type supported by a shaft 10 on which the bobbin 9 isfixedly mounted, and which ex tends through a centrally positionedaperture 11 in the wall 7. The shaft is adapted to extend through anopening 12 in a support plate 13 for securing the spool 8 and container6 thereto upon threadably tightening a nut 14 thereon.

In accordance with the present invention, the tensioning device 2includes a housing 15 which is mounted on the base plate 4. A rotatablemember 16 is supported for rotation by the housing and includes acapstan member 17 adapted to receive a strand S in wound relationthereabout. A reactionary member 19 (FIG. 2) is mounted within thehousing being adapted to control the speed of rotation of the capstan17, and thus, the tension on the strand S as it is paid-off the capstan17. The strand S is taken from a spool 8 and passed through apre-tensioning assembly 18 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which imparts an initial dragaction on the strand to maintain the strand is tensioned non-lipengagement on the capstan. A tubular guide member 20 is provided whichextends through the base 4, and is adapted to receive the strandtherethrough enabling the strand to pass from the spool 8 disposedinteriorly of the container to the capstan 17 located exteriorlythereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1, in the form shown, the base plate 4 isgenerally circular in configuration and may be 'made of any suitablerigid material, such as plastic or the like. The plate 4 may bedetachably connected adjacent the outer marginal edge 22 of the cylinder6 in any suitable manner. In the form shown, the plate 4 is providedwith interior pins 23 and 24 (FIG. 3), which may be afi'ixed therein,and which are adapted to project through openings, as at 23 and .24, inthe side wall 9 of the container 6. At the opposite end of the plate,there is provided a spring-press, latch pin 25 which is adapted forsliding movement within an elongated, cylindrical recess 26 (FIG. 3),and which is adapted for insertion through an opening 27 in the sidewall of the container. A spring 28 is disposed in the recess 26 (FIG. 3)and normally urges the pin 25 outwardly toward the side wall of thecontainer 6. An actuating handle 30 (FIG. 1) is afiixed to the pin 25and projects outwardly through an elongated slot 31 provided in the baseplate 4 to enable the pin 25 to be retracted when it is desired toremove the device 2 from the container for replacement and/or threadingof a new spool, as desired.

In the embodiment shown, the housing 15 preferably includes an outerplate 32 and a generally circular inner plate 34 which is adapted to bepositioned within a centrally located opening 35 in the base plate 4,such as by press fit or the like. Preferably, the outer plate 32 iscircular in configuration, when viewed in top plan, and has a diametergreater than the diameter of the inner plate 34 so as to provide acircumferentially extending flange 36 adapted to overlap the confrontingouter surface 38 (FIG. 2) of the base plate 4. The outer plate 32 andthe inner plate may be secured to one another by suitable fasteners,such as rivets 42 or the like (FIG. 1), while the entire housing may befurther secured to the base plate 4 by other fasteners, such as screws44, which extend through the flange 36 of the outer plate 32.Preferably, the thickness of the inner plate 34 is greater than thethickness of the base plate 4 so that the inner surface 45 of the innerplate 34 will project inwardly beyond the inner face 46 of the baseplate 4 when inserted in the opening 35.

The inner plate 34 preferably includes an annular recess providing acavity 56 (FIG. 2) within the housing 15 between the inner and outerplates when in the installed position. The outer plate 32 may beprovided With an integral annular boss-like projection 58 (FIG. 2)having a diameter complementary to the diameter of the cavity 56 toproperly axially align the outer plate and inner plate with one anotherin the superposed position thereof. The projection 58 is adapted for atight fit within the recess 55 to provide a cap-like seal for the cavity56.

In the form shown, the rotatable member 16 comprises a capstan member 17which is fixedly mounted adjacent one end of a shaft 52. The shaft 52 ispreferably disposed in generally axial alignment with the spool 8 andextends through a generally centrally disposed aperture 54 in the outerplate 32 for rotation therein. The opposite end of the shaft 52 issupported within a generally centrally disposed recess 60 provided inthe inner plate 34. The shaft 52 may be made of any suitable materialand may be secured to the capstan 17 in any suitable manner, such as bya press fit or the like.

Preferably, the capstan member 17 is of a generally H- shaped, in crosssection, configuration having upper 17a and lower 17b circular flangeswhich define therebetween an annular recess 61. The recess 61 isprovided with a complementary shaped cushion member or lining 62 ofresilient elastomeric material, such as rubber or the like, to enablethe strand S to become partially embedded therein and to provideincreased gripping action between the strand and the lining when thestrand is wound in tensioned relation on the capstan 17.

In the form shown, the reactionary member 19 (FIG. 2) comprises anannular flange 63 which may be fixedly mounted adjacent the opposite endof the shaft 52 disposed within the housing 15. The flange 63 projectsradially outwardly within the cavity 56 and is adapted for slidingfrictional engagement with a disc 64, such as of friction material,which may be permanently bonded to the confronting undersurface of theouter plate 32. In the alternative, the friction disc 64 may be bondedto the uppersurface of the flange 63 or frictional engagement with aconfronting undersurface of the plate 32.

To hold the flange 63 in engagement with the disc 64, the shaft 52 maybe provided with a spring 66 which extends lengthwise through acentrally disposed bore 68 in the shaft 52. The spring is biased at oneend by a spherical member 70, such as a steel ball, disposed within thebore 68 and which provides a point contact with the inner plate 34 toachieve minimum friction with the inner plate 34 as the shaft 52rotates. The spring 66 is biased at the opposite end by a screw 71 whichis threadably engaged within the bore 68 and which provides a means foradjusting the compression in the spring, and thus, the degree offrictional engagement between the flange 63 and the disc 64. Inaddition, by this arrangement the shaft 52 is held in axially spacedrelation from the plate 34. The remaining portion of the cavity 56 maybe provided with a lubricating media, such as oil or the like, so thatwear on the disc and flange are substantially reduced while achieving agreater uniformity of the frictional force resisting rotation of thecapstan 17. Seals 69 may be provided to prevent leaking of thelubricating media along the shaft. In addition, disposition of the disc64 and flange 63 within the sealed cavity 56 also prevents the entranceof contaminants to the interior of the housing 15 which might otherwiseeffect the smoothness of rotation of the capstan 17 and cause excessivewear on the parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the embodiment shown, thepre-tensioning assembly 18 of the present invention includes a resilientmember 72 and a compressible member 73 which coact with one another toreceive the strand S in compressed relation therebetween. Preferably,the resilient member 72 is provided in the form of a leafspring having afirst elongated resilient arm 74 which may extend angularly downwardlyand generally transversely of the inner plate 34 of the housing 15 inthe normal operating condition of the device. One end of the resilientarm 74 may be connected to the housing in any suitable manner, such asby a screw 75, while the opposite end is connected, such as by rivetingor the like, to a second or drag arm member 76, which is generallyangularly disposed with respect to the first arm member, and which isadapted for compressible engagement with the compressible member 73.Preferably, the first arm 74 is disposed at an acute angle with respectto the second arm 76 so that the confronting edges 78 and 80 form agenerally V-shaped slot which will tend to guide the strand S to thepoint of intersection 81 of the respective edges 78 and 80 when thestrand is drawn through the device. In addition, the resilient arm 74 ispreferably disposed adjacent the housing so that the edge 78 will extendgenerally diametrically across the inner plate 34.

The drag arm 76 preferably is provided with a generally lengthwiseextending inclined guide surface 82 which extends angularly downwardlyin a direction away from the plate 34. By this arrangement, the arm 76provides a cam surface for-smooth sliding coaction with the strand S.The guide surface 82 defines a lengthwise extending apex surface 79which imparts maximum pressure on the strand as it passes between thearm 76 and the compressible member 73.

The compressible member 73 may be any suitable resilient compressiblematerial, but in the form shown, consists of a pad of synthetic fiberfelt. The member 73 may be affixed to the housing in any suitablemanner, such as bonding with adhesive or the like, and should havesufiicient compressible characteristics so that the resilient arm member76 due to the spring characteristics of the arm 74 will be substantiallydepressed therein to maintain the intersection 81 substantially withinthe marginal confines of the compressible member 73 during the operationof the device.

The guide member is provided to enable the strand to pass freely andsubstantially smoothly from the interior of the container 6 to theexterior thereof, and from the pre-tensioning assembly 18 to therotatable capstan 17. In the form shown, the guide member 20 comprisesan elongated tube 83 having a lengthwise extending passageway 84therethrough. Preferably, the tube 83 extends through an aperture 85 inthe base 4 and an aligned aperture 89 in the plate 32 which may beoff-set from the geometric center of the base 4, and which tube may besecured therein, such as by a press fit or the like. The tube may beprovided with a lengthwise extending slot 86 (FIG. 1) which is alignedand communicates with a radially extending slot 88 in the base 4, andwhich extends to the outer marginal edge thereof so that the strand Smay be slid therethrough into position within the passageway 84 in thetube 83. The tube 83 may be made of any suitable material, butpreferably should be of a material which offers substantially negligiblefrictional resistance to the strand as it slides therethrough. The innerend of the tube should be positioned so that the strand S will move in apath generally parallel to the inner surface 45 of the plate 34 whilethe opposite end of the tube is preferably positioned to direct thestrand onto the innermost portion of the lining 62 adjacent the lowerflange 17b as it is fed to the capstan 17. To this end, the lower orinnermost end of the tube 83 may terminate generally adjacent thelowermost extremity of the compressible member 73, while the upper oroutermost end of the tube may terminate generally adjacent the lower orinnermost end of the capstan 17, as seen in FIG. 2. In addition, it ispreferred that the point of intersection 81 defined by the arms 74 and76 be positioned on an imaginary line coincident with the diametriccenter of the base and the geometric center of the tube 83 to feed thestrand in a radial direction from arm 76 to the guide member 20.

In the form shown, the device may be provided with another guide in theform of a reverse bent member 90 which defines a loop-like eyelet 91threadably mounted on the base member 4, as at 92. The geometric centerof the eyelet is preferably disposed in axial alignment with themid-portion of the capstan 17 so that the strand S may be payed-offadjacent the upper or outermost end of the capstan and generallyhorizontally through and adjacent the upper or outermost end of theeyelet to prevent any overlapping of strands on the capstan duringoperation of the device.

By the foregoing arrangement, it will be seen that the device of theinvention provides a novel construction for maintaining adequate anduniform tension on a strand as it is payed-off a supply spool of therotatable or nonrotatable type for use with a winding or braidingmachine. The device incorporates a novel capstan member having. aresilient and deformable construction to hold a strand in frictional,non-slip relation thereon during rotation thereof. A selectivelyadjustable reactionary member coacts in friction drag actionrelationship with the capstan member to provide a primary controlledresistance to rotation of the capstan so as to maintain a substantiallyuniform tension on the strand payed-off the capstan to the machine. Apre-tensioning assembly coacts in resilient and compressiblerelationship with a strand as it is immediately payed-off the spool toprovide a secondary controlled resistance to rotation of the capstan soas to maintain a substantially uniform drag action tension on the strandas it is fed to the capstan and so as to further hold the strand infrictional, non-slip relationship on the capstan during rotationthereof.

The terms and expressions which have been used are employed as terms ofdescription, and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of thefeatures shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognizedthat various modifications are contemplated within the scope of theinvention claimed.

I claim:

1. A device for controlling the tension and a flexible element of thetype drawn off a supply spool or the like comprising,

a base-like housing adapted for securement to a support for said spool,

a rotatable means mounted on said housing adapted to receive in woundrelation a flexible element drawn from said spool,

said rotatable means including a resilient, deformable take-up member,

said flexible element adapted to be frictionally retained insubstantially non-slip embedded relation around said take-up member uponbeing drawn in tensioned relation from said spool,

a reactionary means operably connected to said rotatable means forfrictional coacting engagement therewith to control the rotation of saidrotatable means,

said rotatable means comprises a capstan means disposed for rotation ona shaft mounted on said housing,

said capstan means including an inner support member and an outerelastomeric cushion-like member,

said reactionary means includes a friction member disposed interiorly ofsaid housing for operable coaction between said housing and said shaft,

said housing includes an interior fluid sealed cavity,

and

said friction member disposed within said cavity for self-lubricatedrotation therein.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, including selectively adjustablemeans disposed for operable coaction with said reactionary means tocontrol the resistance to rotation of said rotatable means.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shaft is of ahollow tubular construction, and

selectively adjustable resilient means disposed within said shaft forcontrolling the frictional resistance of said reactionary means.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, including pre-tensioning meansmounted on said housing adapted for drag action friction engagement withsaid flexible element as it is drawn-off said spool onto said rotatablemeans.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, including a tubular guide memberextending through said housing adjacent one side of said rotatable meansadapted to guide said flexible element in oif-set relation from saidspool to said rotatable means. 6. A device for controlling the tensionon a flexible element of the type drawn oil a supply spool or the likecomprising,

a base-like housing adapted for securement to a support for said spool,

a rotatable means mounted on said housing adapted to receive in woundrelation 21 flexible element drawn from said spool,

said rotatable means including a resilient, deformable take-up member,

said flexible element adapted to be frictionally retained insubstantially non-slip embedded relation around said take-up member uponbeing drawn in tensioned relation from said spool,

a pre-tensioning means mounted on said housing adapted for drag actionfriction engagement with said flexible element as it is drawn oil saidspool onto said rotatable means,

said pre-tensioning means includes a compressible member disposedadjacent said housing on the side opposite said rotatable means, and

a resilient member attached at one end to said housing for resilientpivotal movement adjacent its other end into engagement with saidcompressible member and adapted to frictionally urge said flexibleelement into engagement with said compressible member.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6, including a reactionary meansoperably connected to said rotatable means for frictional coactingengagement therewith to control the rotation of said rotatable means.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said reactionary meansincludes a friction member disposed interiorly of said housing foroperable coaction between said housing and said shaft.

9. A device for controlling the tension on a flexible element of thetype drawn oil? a supply spool or the like comprising,

a base-like housing adapted for securement to a support for said spool,

a rotatable means mounted on said housing adapted to receive in woundrelation a flexible element drawn from said spool,

a reactionary means operably connected to said rotatable means forfrictional coacting engagement therewith to control the rotation of saidrotatable means, and

said reactionary means disposed interiorly of said housing for operablecoaction between said housing and said rotatable member to reducecontamination of and wear on said reactionary means.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said housing includesan interior fluid sealed cavity,

and

said reactionary member is disposed within said cavity forself-lubricated rotation therein.

11. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said reactionary meansincludes a friction member disposed interiorly of said housing foroperable coaction between said housing and said rotatable means.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said friction memberis disposed within said cavity for self-lubricated rotation therein.

13. A device in accordance with claim 9, including pre-tensioning meansmounted on said housing adapted for drag action friction engagement withsaid flexible element as it is drawn off said spool onto said rotatablemeans.

14. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said rotatable meansincludes a resilient, deformable pick-up member, and

said flexible element is frictionally retained in substantially non-slipembedded relation around said take-up member upon being drawn intensioned relation from said spool.

15. A device in accordance with claim 9, including selectivelyadjustable means disposed for operable coaction with said reactionarymeans to control the resistance to rotation of said rotatable means.

16. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said rotatable meanscomprises a capstan means disposed for rotation on a shaft mounted onsaid housing, and

said capstan means including an inner support member and an outerelastomeric cushion-like member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,487,889 11/1949 Moore 242-128LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

